Farmers in Wales have celebrated after claims for arrears payments made by the Environment Agency to farmers in Internal Drainage Districts (IDD) throughout Wales have been dropped. Farmers, who received the demands last year, will not now have to pay up, the Environment Agency has confirmed.

The Environment Agency had demanded arrears payments for the previous five years, though many farmers thought this was unreasonable and appealed. In some cases the demands, which were based on land area within an IDD, ran into the thousands of pounds.

Farming Union NFU Cymru welcomed the announcement yesterday; the union had supported legal challenges to the demands. Following the challenge, NFU Cymru said the Environment Agency had written to confirm it had abandoned the outstanding debt recovery process and would reimburse those farmers who had already paid.

Meirionnydd NFU Cymru County Chair Trefor Hughes said, “This is a victory for common sense. We welcome the Environment Agency’s commitment to resolving issues regarding land ownership in the districts and updating their records. It is a pity it has taken so long.”

The chair went on to say that the union will continue to work with the Environment Agency, which currently acts as the Internal Drainage Board in the areas in question, to ensure that the necessary work is carried out on the ditches and drains.”

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